Power Logging

Re: Power Logging

One thing I want to add is a kWh meter on the generator output. As utilities have gone to the so-called "smart meters" I've seen the old flywheel type analog meters for sale, with the socket, for pretty cheap. Right now I estimate generator output based on hours of operation and estimated average load. My estimate is probably close enough but for the $25 I've seen those used utility meters for, it would be nice to have one.

Eau Claire is way further south from us and they get much better solar insolation than we do in the winter time. But generally I would say that once March gets here that the solar panels start to work again pretty good, and they work well all thru the summer and fall. From about November to the middle of February it is very hard to get much power from them and mid-December to mid-January is the worst. This year we had surprisingly good solar insolation after the winter solstice with some really cold bright clear days. So we got more power from the solar panels than we have gotten in previous years.

Once we get into the "dog days" of summer the wind turbines do not produce much, except when storms come along. But in the winter, with the cold dense air that has no turbulence from daytime solar heating of the land, the wind turbines work awesome.

I'm pretty happy with our balance of power between solar and wind, as the wind works better in the winter and the solar works better in the summer. Our goal is not to eliminate generator run time because we use it for the peak loads, and those peak loads are some of the things that we have that usually only people with grid power have. No matter how much solar or wind turbines we put in, the cost in batteries to run the peak load stuff would make it not practical. And that's what we use the generator for. To have the stuff we have (all electric home, including range, water heating, clothes dryer and my shop) for only $176 out-of-pocket for generator fuel for the month, I don't think is too bad, to have an off-grid home that uses over 30 kWh/day.
--
Chris

Re: Power Logging

mtdoc wrote: »

166.2 kWh solar / 30 days = 5.4 kWh per day. With 3.5 kW of solar panel, in January, in Norther Wisconsin!!!!!!

Wow Chris I'm impressed- what happened to the snow covered panels you had talked about??

Did you get your panels mounted vertically to catch some snow reflected photons?

No, I left them right where they are and we had a pretty good month for once in the dead of winter. We have had some really cold clear days with not a cloud in the sky and they have worked good this year. It is the normal for us to not see the sun even once from about Christmas to the middle of February. So far it has been shining a couple days a week at least, which is fine with me
--
Chris